Iowa House Honors 2009 Cyclones

DES MOINES, Iowa - It was over in 90 minutes, but the captains of Iowa State's Insight Bowl championship football team and their head coach Paul Rhoads will have a lifetime of memories of their visit Wednesday to the Iowa State Capitol. The Cyclone contingent was honored by a resolution in the Iowa House of Representatives, met Iowa Governor Chet Culver in his office and received recognition in the Iowa Senate.

The co-captains of Iowa State's 2009 bowl champions, James Smith, Nate Frere, Derec Schmidgall, Reggie Stephens and Austen Arnaud, were special guests in the House. The particularly poignant moment included Rhoads recalling the days when his mother had served as an aide to two Iowa House Representatives when he was a child. He also pointed out that Iowa State student-athletes lead the Big 12 Conference with a graduation rate of 78 percent. The Cyclones' football graduation rate of 72 percent also leads the Big 12.

The loudest cheer came during the reading of the resolution detailing the Cyclones' heroic 9-7 win at Nebraska, the first victory over the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Neb. in 32 years.

The group then headed for the governor's office. Culver played football at Virginia Tech and reminisced about his days on the Hokie football team. Culver talked with the Cyclone group about their 14-13 New Year's Eve Insight win over Minnesota, which the Governor witnessed in person.

Players Mentioned

Austen Arnaud

Austen Arnaud

Nate Frere

Derec Schmidgall

James Smith

Reggie Stephens

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics